BackHTC said to plan first camera to take on GoPro as sales drop
The camera to is have a 16 megapixel sensor that connects directly to devices running Android and iOS systems
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Taipei: HTC Corp. is developing its first camera, a waterproof model for extreme sports, as it diversifies beyond smartphones amid three years of declining sales, according to a person familiar with the plans.
“Featuring an ultra wide-angle lens, the camera will have a 16 megapixel sensor and connect directly to devices running Google Inc.’s Android and Apple Inc.’s iOS systems," said the person who asked not to be identified because the details aren’t public. HTC declined to comment in an e-mailed response to Bloomberg News on Friday.
HTC, which has forecast its 12th straight quarter of falling sales, is searching for new sources of revenue after losing smartphone share to rivals including Xiaomi Corp. and Lenovo Group Ltd.
Adding cameras would see the Taoyuan, Taiwan- based company challenge GoPro Inc., which raised $427 million in a June initial public offering, in the market for smaller, rugged cameras used in action sports.
“The tube-shaped HTC camera would include both Bluetooth and Wifi that allow devices to connect to smartphones," the person said.
“HTC may release its own Android and iOS applications to support the camera," the person said.
“The camera, as well as a new smartphone optimized for self- portrait photography, or selfies, may be unveiled at a press event scheduled for 8 October in New York," the person said.
HTC this week sent out invitations to an event with the headline “double exposure" without providing specific details.
“Development of a wearable device for the wrist has been delayed and the product may not be released until next year," said the person.
HTC closed unchanged at NT$131 (US$4.35) in Taipei trading after earlier climbing as much as 1.5%. The stock is down 7.1 % this year, compared with a 7.1 % advance in the benchmark Taiex index. Bloomberg
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